I'm in love with the ....

girl who lives in the house with the white washed gable.....

If nothing else, looking back at the songs in my head when I post will prove that I know many many songs. That one came from Joe Dolan....hang on I'll try to find a website link cos any of you who haven't heard of him, would be shocked that a relatively young lady (that would be me!) knows any of his songs. But, I was brought up on The Eagles, Olivia Newton John, Smokie, Abba, Neil Diamond (who's birthday I think it was yesterday...sorry Neil).....and so there are many strange songs in my head. I don't love any girls in houses with white washed gable btw...am quite happy with my man who at this moment is treading the boards rehearsing for a play that a local group are performing in a couple of weeks time. Oh, what arty folk we aren't! He professed to me last night that he is the least creative person he knows.....so obviously that's my job in this relationship.

Just found the website and added the link....be careful...enter at your own risk....it's loud and risque!

Back to matters in hand....didn't go to work today. Decided that the house needed a once over and that's what it got. The joys of being your own boss I suppose...rang in at 9.10 to say I wouldn't be in till the afternoon but to send anything urgent to me by mobile. Nothing urgent seems to have happened and it's quarter past ten in the evening now. I started at the top of the house and didn't get downstairs! Got 5 loads of washing done...sheets and bulky things. Even managed to half dry a few bits on the washing line...am well impressed given the type of weather we have had the last while. Sorted out my hotpress, and all our clothes - baby bags, charity bags, good wear, farm wear, etc. Tony came home at half one and I told him the place had been ransacked....it looked soooo bad. But it's organised chaos. I found the company credit cards that I had put in a 'safe' place in November, and also found some other bits I knew I hadn't lost, but couldn't find iykwim.

This is sounding a bit to exciting for a post about house work so I'm going to leave it there and go back to see what Davina has to say to Cleo and Jo who got voted out of Big Brother. Also want to get the second half of the can of Heineken I started drinking. Cheers....

Big party on tomorrow by the way...Eilis is three next Wednesday so we're partying at the grandparents this weekend.....T's house tomorrow evening and our house on Sunday. Oh what a socialite she is! Tomorrow there will be more rice crispie buns, chocolate cake and whatever else we decide to get up to. Guaranteed to be a stone heavier when I post back on Monday!

When the boys of Killybegs come rolling home....

So I don't have to go to Killybegs tomorrow. TG. Am currently toying with the idea of not coming in to work. I'm going to leave a half day anyway because we have the NCT on the car, but I'd be tempted to go on a serious bout of cleaning and organising my house. It's annoying being gone at weekends and especially when you've worked late during the week, there's clothes in the washing machine, about 4 loads to be washed and I just won't feel like it when I get home this evening. Plus I have to go shopping to buy some bits for the little lady who will be turning 3 next week. We're having a little party with her aunties and uncles at the weekend so I'll need to buy some trash for that and a present.....I have no idea at the moment. It's so close to Christmas...but she won't get another present till next year (well in theory anyway) and it's not her fault we had her in January. We'll see. I'm going to head into town at 5 and see what I see....and hopefully there'll still be a copy of Scrapbook Inspirations for me there.

Nothing else strange or exciting here.....work shmurk...it's the longest week in history. I don't really feel like writing and while I had wanted to share some bits from my camera, I haven't had time to transfer them onto this machine, so no pics today again. How boring. And no AEzine....Ali, where are you? Real life I suppose.....

I am H-A-P-P-Y

I am HAPPY, I know I am, I'm sure I am, I am HAPPY

Thanks Tigger for putting that song in my head. I used to love 'Only when I laugh'...strange, cos I was probably only about 10 or 11...that and 'Last of the Summer Wine'. Wasn't it great that kids could watch adult programs that were just funny and not disturbing or PG rated. The times we live in I suppose.

No aezine from Ali yet....ah, that's what wednesday's are all about.
Got a bit done at work today and still a lot to do, but I'm tired. I am definitely leaving early tomorrow cos I wasn't home till nine last night. Missed my baby going to bed, but she woke during the night....(had an accident) and was so delighted to see me....how could you be cross. Have to get a birthday present for her before the weekend and have no idea what to get her. She saw a nice Peppa Pig kinda doll's house thing last week and suggested we buy it for her cousin who's birthday it was and I thought that it was a nice gesture for such a little one....I'm sure I'll think of something though.

So the Fundraising is going fabulously. Got lots of support - 18 lovely ladies so far, so hopefully things will work out well. I had been dicussing which classes we should do with Evonne this afternoon...yes, yes, I should be working I know. We both agreed that the lesson learnt from last year was to maximise the amount of classes and don't even bother thinking you'll get any scrapping done besides. So far, there's 8 classes I really want to do...all scrappy ones, although the altering and cardie ones have also caught my eye. Next stop is to check out my bank balance and clear the credit card bill before the classes go on sale on Sunday.

Sad, sad news that Mairead really isn't well but is in great spirits. Couldn't stop thinking about her last night. She's my sister's boyfriend's sister but we know her well....only 24....3rd time round it's got her, after various battles and successes over the last 5 years. Awful, awful effing disease.

Live each day is all you can do. I'm so glad for what I have, for my life up to now - family, friends, husband, daughter....really, really, really grateful. Hope they know it. Hope I show them.

SAD end to a post that started off HAPPY

We've gone public!

So, Kate and Mireille liked my idea to raise some cash for charity at Crafteire and we've gone public!

I had been thinking about what we could do and decided that a bring and buy type idea might raise some money for charity. It mainly came about at Christmas when I was going through my stash to add some bits to a box for Patsy, my neighbour to start her off on cardmaking. I had so many bits I knew I'd never use but were all good quality, etc. A couple of weeks ago I got in contact with Kate and Mireille to ask if I could set up a stand at Crafteire to raise money for charity. I asked the sisters in advance if they would help out. Claire lives in Tullamore so it's handy and they were delighted to help....as long as I go out with Claire on the Saturday night. I think I could raise to that occasion!

We have decided to donate all the proceeds to the Irish Cancer Society, as it is a cause close to our hearts, and because cancer unfortunately touches the lives of most families. We realise that we were lucky in our house, and have always been looking for opportunities to give something back, or aid research or whatever. A family friend is in not so good form at the moment and you just feel so helpless.

I had originally thought about pricing all the items and raffling off anything left at the end, and it's difficult, because you have no idea as to how many people will support this, or to what extent......but the crafting community is unlike any other (as I have tried to explain to my mother....who simply didn't get the idea that I could put a 'call' out on the internet and get any kind of response!). Rather than sell off each individual item we are going to bag little packs and maybe even try to match the contents up into mini kits. I know I've got magazines and books and other items I've ordered from the internet that weren't quite what I wanted, or just didn't get around to using. My craft room could do with a good once over, so I'm expecting to fill a box all on my own!

This morning, I posted in the main crafty sites that I frequent and now just have to wait and see, but even if we only raised 100 euro, it's all for a good cause.

Bibbity Bobitty Boop

Dunno why it's going around in my head...

Thought I had got away with not having to go all the way north to Killybegs on Friday cos Brian might go instead, but now it's looking like it. Bad Monday all round really. Have to stay late at work to meet someone who wants to do a Masters thesis on us. Free analysis of the business is difficult to say no to I suppose and thankfully I took some of my previously prepared food out of the freezer this morning. I was going to finish work early so I could go home and clean and tidy and do some washing before the house falls down, but now I have to stay late. That's what you get for planning these things in your head. Also have to stay late tomorrow cos I have a meeting at half six....what's going on with people. So am now wondering which day I'm going to doss off early in lieu of all this late night work. We may have no socks to wear if I don't get a wash on soon. Worst case scenario I do what I always do and buy some more! We have more underwear than anyone else I know!

The children's party went much better than I could have expected. Men are great.

I say that because my darling hubby, his bro in law (father of the birthday girl) and another cousin all hung out outside and 'minded' the bouncing castle while the ladies prepared the food inside and cleaned up afterwards. For such a bad Saturday, the weather on Sunday was cold but not raining and so the kids bounced away to their heart's content all day. I supervised the castle for 5 minutes and couldn't take it anymore....there is a very high percentage of 'near misses' and i am a worrier....especially when there are other people's kids involved. Tony told me that I was doing too much watching and all they did was let the odd shout when someone tried to go down the slide onto the wet grass. I would have been hoarse. Of course I had to try the castle myself...only lasted about 7 minutes with T. We chose the time when all teh kids were inside playing pass the parcel and when the parents were coming to collect their kids, so we are officially 'as bad as the kids' in their eyes. Have some fun, I say. (Although note to self....bouncy castles when you have been out the night before and after a feed of children's party food is not such a good idea.....my hangover came back!)

Here's a pic of my Fifth Birthday....seeing as we're on the subject of Birthday Parties.

We went out to our local on Saturday night....well, what used to be our local...back around 2000. Met up with T's cousin (the one who got engaged...pic below somewhere) to talk wedding talk and frighten him. Ended up drinking lots of Guiness and not doing too much wedding talk. IT was v. cold, but our friendly barman offered us a lift home, and made it all worthwhile. We will be back. Only live a mile from the pub and so the walk isn't out of the question, but getting an unexpected lift is fabby. Maybe that's another of the repercussions of the on-the-spot breath tests....nicer landlords.

Don't really have too much other news. Got some crafting done on Saturday....a LO (I'll share later...but it's a secret for now) and I altered a paper folder. Started on Shimelle's class, and will finish it....hopefully sometime this week....before I forget what all the pictures are supposed to represent.

Over and out....

A random pic....me as a baby!